keep it classy

If you know me then you know that I am a very obnoxious passionate Auburn fan.  I very well could bleed orange and blue.  I definitely DESPISE the other team as much as any other passionate fan.  However, is it necessary to boo the other team?  Or better yet, yell SUCKS after each team name of the starting players for the other team is announced?  NO, it really isn't.  I do not like to see Auburn fans do this because I'd like to think we are classier than that.  I do not like to see Auburn fans do this because I'd like to think that we are more concerned with our own team than some other silly team.  So, why can we not step up and stop being so rude and just worry about cheering our own team on?  This does NOT just apply to Auburn fans.  This applies to all fans and Auburn is definitely not the worst of the bunch from the away games I've been to.  However, I think we are too classy of a University to stoop to this level.  Please join with me in cheering on our team and simply ignoring the other.

Here's to being more classy and being louder for our team.

peace. blessings. & war eagle.

overwhelmed

Today's devotion included the following verse:

"From the ends of the earth,

I cry to you for help

when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the

towering rock of safety."

PSALM 61:2

Which prompts me to write about how perfectly this goes with my life right now.  I am a bit overwhelmed.  However, this is not new news... I get overwhelmed quite easily.  This past week I went to the beach with my family, which includes my grandmother who recently had a series of medical problems.  Prior to her stroke, grandma was the strongest and most independent woman.  She did not receive help from others.  She was the best single mother to my dad and uncle.  However, now she needs a lot of help.  I love to help people, especially the ones I care about the most.  Well, grandma did not want my help and she made it very clear.  This caused me to get very overwhelmed.  Who doesn't want the ones they love to help them?  The better question that I'm sure she is asking herself is... why does my granddaughter have to help me?  Thus, we are both overwhelmed.

The GRE. I take it on August 13th... I don't need to go in depth about why this overwhelms me.  It's a test.  I dislike tests.  The score I make on that determines whether I get into grad school.

I graduate in 4 months.  WHAT?!  I just started college.  I have been and am so ready to graduate and move on to the next phase of life.  However, woah... it's coming... very fast.

But, we are told to turn to Jesus.  He will lead us to the rock of safety.  He will give us renewed hope.  We put our faith in Him and He provides.  He died on the cross for us.  His grace saves us.

so here's to relying on Jesus a lot more and being less overwhelmed

oh happy day

This past weekend I got to celebrate this goob's birthday with him!

The day was filled with:

swimming. Ultimate Survival Alaska. meatloaf. mashed potatoes. black eyed peas. lemonade in mason jars. salad. mint chocolate chip cake. Sweet Home Alabama. sweet conversations. lots of hugs. new outfits. juice boxes. yoohoo. fruit rollups. 

(I realize how terrible iPhone pictures are when I see the picture of this cake)

I am so thankful for this sweet guy and the past 2+ years we've spent together.  I cannot imagine spending it with anyone else.  I am thankful for his servants heart and goofy laugh.  I am thankful for our prayers each night that help me get through the next day!  He has blessed me in many ways and I hope I bless him half as much as he blesses me!  Happy 23rd Birthday to the biggest goob I know!  By the way according to Time 23 is the happiest age until 69, so live it up!

peace & birthday blessings

Monograms & Mimosas

Apparently you're not from the south if you don't love monograms... 

Good thing my best friend is obsessed with them!

This past weekend I had the honor of hosting a shower for my best friend, who is getting married in a little over a month!  It was a great day... although it could have been a little less hot.  My stepmom and I were sitting in our beautiful backyard in June and came up with the wonderful idea.  I am not sure why we underestimated the Alabama heat.  However, everything came out just great and it was a wonderful day for Lindsay spent with family and friends!

Here's a little preview from the shower:

The shower wouldn't be complete without defining love from our Heavenly Father.  I wrote this on the chalkboard and it was quite possibly one of my favorite details from the day.  Many blessings to this couple and the love they have for one another.

peace & blessings

[to the new couple]

new days

soundtrack to this post: New Day by Green River Ordinance

It must be some type of miracle... I am blogging two days in a row! I have a soundtrack to this post because 1. I am currently very much so in love with Green River Ordinance. 2. I think that the post represents that of a new day.

So if there is another thing you should know about me besides the fact that I don't like I change, it would be: I am OCD (literally) about plans. I rarely fly by the seat of my pants. I LOVE making lists, plans, and having things in order. However, I'm learning that while plans are important most of the time they are not always necessary. Friday, July 5th was a new day for me. We didn't really have any plans other than that Hunter told me we were going camping. (commence freak out, I need to know the plans - but no worries I stayed calm)  

We started the day off with getting some Gibson's BBQ, since we didn't get to have it on the 4th.  It was subpar - I wouldn't refuse to go again, but would probably not choose to go. However, I was thankful that they had white BBQ sauce. I could write a whole post on white BBQ sauce... but that would be just a little weird. That is another one of my current loves. 

Then we made our way on over to Woodville to go to Cathedral Caverns. This is when I am reminded of how amazing God is and how beautiful this world is that He created. It is breathtaking. 

This is when we were going to set up our campsite.  However, it was raining and we decided that as much fun as soggy camping would be, we didn't really want to sit in the tent all night or hammock.

So, I realized that we were only 30ish minutes from Scottsboro, home of the infamous Unclaimed Baggage, which I had been wanting to go to for a few years now. We made our way to Scottsboro via country Alabama roads. This is where we saw the pot belly pig just hanging out in his front yard munching on some grass, along with his rooster and hen friends. We got to Unclaimed Baggage... I'm not going to say I was disappointed, but it was basically a humongous thrift store. Don't get me wrong I love thrift stores, but this just wasn't what I was expecting. However I did get two books for less than $5. Hunter got a pair of brand new, with the tag on, Salomon shoes that were only $40 (retail probably would have been $120). It was fun nonetheless.

Then we decided it was probably time to head back to Birmingham. On our way back we found this awesome park on top of a mountain overlooking Lake Guntersville. When we got back to Birmingham we ate at Mexico Lindo where I had the most delicious grilled chicken quesadilla and mango salad. Sorry for the food picture, but it was too good not to share.

Here's to many more new days of unplanned fun, getting out of my comfort zone, and marveling in the beauty of this beautiful world He created for us.

new traditions

if there's one thing you should know about me:

I don't like change.

I love holiday traditions. Love is an understatement. I will not be a happy camper if my traditions are out of the norm.

Well, this 4th of July was all about getting me out of my comfort zone... something I do not handle well. (just ask Hunter)

Well, first I was in Huntsville for the 4th of July.  I don't think I have ever not been with my family for the 4th of July.  I have spent the 4th with Lindsay's family before, but that consisted of the same traditions - BBQ, lake, thunder on the mountain.  This year consisted of NO BBQ, NO LAKE, NO THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN OLIVE GARDEN, SWIMMING IN THE RAIN, FIREWORKS AT THE ROCKET.  Although it was quite different from my normal 4th of July I loved every minute, even if I didn't seem like it in the moment.  I was so thankful to spend it with Hunter and start our own little traditions.  

The good news: even when things in our life change... "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

P.S. Don't try to go get BBQ in Huntsville at 6:30 pm on the 4th of July... none of the restaurants are open.

a calling

What does the word calling mean to you?  Does it mean that you are calling someone on the telephone?  Maybe you're calling across the room for your roommate to bring you a coke out of the fridge.  Well, I am talking about a specific calling... the one that I think has the most important meaning.

Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition of a calling:
a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence

I believe that some professions are a calling... and others are not.  I feel called to be a special education teacher.  Although, there are other things aspirations I would like to do besides teach, I know that NO MATTER what I want to work with people, children, and adolescents with special needs/disabilities.

Most of the time I get these reactions when I tell people what my major is:
"Oh, bless you."
"How do you have the patience for that?"
"Do you know what the burn out rate is in special education?"
"Don't become a teacher."
"Oh, you're just getting an MRS. degree."
"My [insert family member] does that, maybe you should talk to him/her before you decide to do that."

Well, yes the Lord has blessed me with this calling.  In the process of blessing me, He has blessed me with the patience to work with children with special needs.  Does that mean I'm a perfect person and I'm always patient?  Absolutely not.  However, through Him I can only become stronger and more patient.  Let me tell you, just because I have patience in working with children with special needs does NOT mean I have patience in a lot of other areas of my life.

Yes, I know what the burn out rate in special education is.  My reaction to that - they do not have the calling.  Don't even tell me to not become a teacher.  I've been playing school with my dolls, imaginary friends, and stuffed animals since I could talk.  I will become a teacher and I will like love it.  I am blessed to be at an awesome University that provides me with three practicum experiences prior to internship.  This summer I will be starting my third, and final, practicum.  With the previous two practicum experiences I have only felt reassured that special education is what I want to do.  I had a terrible first practicum experience.  When I say terrible, it wasn't awful.  I learned ALOT, but it was not the ideal place for me.  My second practicum experience was AWESOME.  I could not have asked for better students or teachers to work with.

I don't even know where to start with the MRS. degree comment.  No, I'm not getting this degree to just become a stay-at-home mom.  If I am, well then that's my choice.  I am getting this degree because it is my calling.  I am getting this degree because when I do, Lord willing, become a mother one day it will be the PERFECT profession to have when raising children.  I plan on getting a Masters degree as well. I can assure you that I don't plan on spending 5.5 years in school to then let those degrees go to waste.

Finally, no I don't want to talk to your family member that is a special education teacher.  With your attitude it seems as though they are miserable in this profession.  Thus, I don't want to talk to them and they should do the students a favor by retiring/quitting.

I pray that every teacher and person in a helping profession would have a calling.  People that don't feel called don't have the passion.  I pray that everyone can be passionate about their job!

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2Peter 1:10-11

peace & blessings

when it rains it pours

the majority of my Christmas break and past month has spent at Brookwood Medical Center...

December 22 - Grandma was taken to the ER by my dad and stepmom.  She had severe bleeding.  We found out it was due to cancer in her right kidney.  The cancer was extending into the inferior vena cava.  She also had a mass on her liver.

December 26 - Grandma had surgery to remove her right kidney.  The surgery was very serious intensive surgery but went really well.  They were able to get all of the cancer, including what was in the inferior vena cava.  The mass on her liver was non-cancerous.

January 4 - Grandma was released from the hospital and taken to Lakeshore for rehabilitation from her kidney surgery.  

January 7 - Grandma fell at Lakeshore and cracked the area of her femur bone closest to her hip. 

January 8 - Grandma was taken back to Brookwood to have more intensive care for her 

January 10 - Grandma is released to Golden Living nursing home for rehabilitation for her hip.  

January 11 - The nurses at Golden Living realize that Grandma has had a stroke, which she had while at Brookwood.  They released her without checking.  Grandma is taken to the ER at Brookwood for the 3rd time.  I rush home from Auburn.

January 14 - It's a Monday morning and I don't have class until 5:00 pm so I decided to stay in Birmingham.  I wake up and go to see grandma in the CICU before going back to Auburn.   Ann calls me to tell me that my dad is being rushed to the ER via ambulance for stomach pain.  We find out that his stomach pain is being caused by diverticulitis.  Diverticuli are polyps in the colon + itis = inflamed polyps that cause buildup in the colon.  These polyps in my dads colon were bursting.  So, he is told he has to stay in the hospital a few days to let them heal.  If they don't heal he will have to have surgery to remove part of his colon.  

January 17 - Ann calls me to tell me that my dad is only getting worse and my dad is about to have an emergency operation on his colon.  My dad had 15 inches of his colon removed.  He is taken to the SICU after surgery.

January 18 - Grandma is released from Brookwood again and is now back at Golden Living for stroke rehabilitation.

January 20 - Dad gets moved from the SICU to the main floor.  (yay!)

January 25 - Dad gets his first solid food in 11 days.

January 28 - Dad is finally home!!! YAY!!!! 

when it rains it pours 

and opens doors

and floods the floors 

we thought would always

keep us safe and dry

-train

Although we may not understand the trials and bad times God puts us through, He is there for us throughout the whole process.  He wants us to lean on Him and rely on Him for all comfort.  He loves us more than we will ever comprehend.  He holds our hand and stays up the late nights with us to guide us.  He will not give us something that we cannot handle.  He will not give us anything we cannot handle.  He will not let us give up.  He will continue to bless us.

Thank you so much to all of my friends that have supported me and listened to me.  Thank you most of all to Hunter for always listening to me and giving me the word of God to lift me up on my bad days.

"For the Lord will not cast off forever,

but, though he will have compassion 

according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

for he does not willingly afflict

or grieve the children of men."

-Lamentations 3:31-32

"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live."

-Psalms 116:1-2

peace. blessings. & good health.